11.5

Copyright  2011 Nuance Communications, Inc. All rights reserved
11
Key points about getting started with Dragon 11.5
 Each person who wants to dictate with Dragon needs to have his or her own User profile. Creating one
is a short process guided by a series of screens. Profiles from versions 11, 10 and 9 can be upgraded to
version 11.5 thanks to the Upgrade Wizard. (After upgrading such a profile, we recommend running
Accuracy Tuning),
 Make sure your microphone is properly connected and positioned, and the appropriate audio source is
selected. See our website for details on special sources like recorders and wireless microphones, as
well as the use of smartphone apps with Dragon.
 In the higher editions, you can add a dictation source to an existing profile (for instance, if after
using Dragon with your USB microphone you wish to also dictate using your iPhone as a wireless
microphone, or to have Dragon transcribe what you dictated into a digital recorder). Whatever source
is used, you will access the same vocabulary customizations (special words and phrases,
pronunciations, etc.) Starting out with a microphone source as opposed to a recorder source is
recommended.
 When reading a training text, speak clearly but naturally using the same volume, pitch and pace you
are likely to use day-to-day. Try to read what is prompted as if you were dictating your own words to
the computer. Use the Redo and Skip buttons as needed, as use the Pause button if you need to clear
your throat or speak to someone. (When its microphone is on, Dragon listens to every sound coming
from the microphone’s listening side!)
 During profile creation, Dragon offers to perform a basic adaptation of your profile’s vocabulary based
on text it finds in your Documents folder as well as on sent e-mails. Feel free to skip that step but be
sure to use Dragon’s powerful tools as soon as possible after profile creation finishes.
 Dragon's scheduled tasks are designed to help improve accuracy over time. Be sure to schedule them
for a time when your computer will be on but Dragon will not be running (this includes Dragon’s
QuickStart). Please see the Help for more information.
 By default, the Sidebar opens automatically, docked to the right, when a user profile opens. If you
typically keep desktop items on the right side of your screen, the Sidebar may move them. For this
reason, you may wish to rearrange your desktop items before the Sidebar opens, or set your desktop to
Auto-arrange. (See the Sidebar’s Help. Its right-click menu includes Floating.)